italian jewish therapy

the shows

Centrestage proudly presents The New York comedy hit My Mother's Italian,My Father's Jewish&I'm in Therapy! set to be staged for 3 nights only at the Boardwalk’s Vodacom Amphitheatre on Fri 27th January and the weekend of 3rd and 4th February. Book at ComputicketThe comedy finally comes to Port Elizabeth after months of negotiation between Centrestage impresario Gary Hemmings and top SA show producer, Colin Law.Created onstage in New York by comedian Steve Solomon, this hilariously funny play tells the story of an Italian-Jewish family and the crazy characters surrounding them – whose sole purpose is to drive him into therapy (and they succeed!).This smash hit show has toured played off Broadway for almost two years and subsequent to this has toured the world since 2007.The demanding role requires a leading man of range and stature – and there is no-one better to play the role of the luckless Steve than popular stage and television actor Michael Richard.In the spirit of ‘Defending the Caveman’, this one-man tour de force sees Richard creating a range of voices, dialects and sound effects to bring the stories, anecdotes and jokes to vivid and hysterical life.

The South African production is directed by Charmaine Weir-Smith, with set design by Wilhelm Disbergen and lighting by Jane Gosnell.My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm in Therapy! is one part lasagne, one part kreplach and two parts Prozac. You don't have to be Jewish or Italian to see this show. All you need is to know what it feels like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache!Port Elizabeth audiences have a brief chance to catch a glimpse of this extremely popular production which was preceded by multi-million rand box office takings in extended runs at Jhb’s Monte Casino and at Pieter Torien’s popular Cape Town venue Theatre on the Bay.The play moves to Tel Aviv in Israel and Sydney in Australia following its short Eastern Cape run.Tickets cost R110 (with students and pensioners tickets available at R85), which can be purchased through Computicket.That said, the theatre’s box-office will charge you just a fraction of the rate billed by your own therapist, so be sure to come and laugh at someone else’s family for a change!Bookings open on Monday 16 January.

A native of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Steve is the originator of this off-Broadway hit that recently wrapped up a two-year run at the Westside Theatre. Steve Solomon (complete with his side-splitting impersonations of his mishuginah family and friends) has played to sold-out houses in 49 cities throughout the United States and Canada, at venues including the Kravis Centre in West Palm Beach, the Broward Centre in Fort Lauderdale, the Brentwood Theatre in Los Angeles, the Hilton in Atlantic City, the Winter Garden in Toronto and the Place des Arts in Montreal.His sequel show ...Still in therapy! And ...home for the holidays! Are touring in December 2011 and through 2012.

Leading South African actor Michael Richard was schooled in Zimbabwe before studying drama at the University of Cape Town. In 1974, he joined PACT as a member of Ken Leach’s famed Arena Company. After playing Hamlet for PACT in 1978, Michael left the company to become a freelance performer, although he was enticed back as an associate actor for four years in the mid-1980s.In the 30 years that Michael has been on stage, he has been blessed to have worked with directors who challenged him in a huge variety of roles from Shakespeare to rock-opera; from comedy, tragedy, farce and musicals to several pantomime dames!Other productions include Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Fangs, Laughing Matters, Wild Honey, Fiddler on the Roof, Amadeus, Educating Rita, Full Circle and Ying Tong – A Walk With the Goons. He also worked with Richard E Grant on his latest movie, Wah Wah, and with John Malkovich on the film adaptation of JM Coetzee’s Disgrace.In addition to his radio and television work, Michael has won many awards, most notably for the theatre productions Children of a Lesser God, Keen, Othello, Death Defying Acts and Decadence. He was also nominated for best actor awards for his portrayals of King Arthur in Camelot and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. At the Theatre on the Square, he has appeared in plays such as Paul Slabolepszy’s Planet Perth, Steven Berkoff’s Decadence with Fiona Ramsay, Pregnant Pause with Charmaine Weir–Smith (directed by Sylvaine Strike); Gods of Carnage and History Boys and most recently Race at The Playhouse, Durban. In 2009 he brought My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy! to the life with sellout seasons in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, garnering a Naledi award nomination for best comedy performance.

“Hysterically funny! Non-stop laughs all the way! Brilliantly done! I can’t recommend this show enough - it’s just great!” –Regis Philbin, Regis and Kelly “Steve Solomon is a comedic genius – it’s like spending an evening with dozens of hilarious friends and eccentric family members.” The Jewish Advocate“As heartwarming as comfort food - everyone can relate to this.” – Martha Stewart“A funny look at family relationships! An entire family wrapped up in a one-man show.” – WCBS-TV“Michael Richard leaves everyone in stitches.....side splitting humour” Edward Tumele Sowetan“Comic tour de force”Whats on in South Africa“Uproariously funny “The CitizenSidespliittingly funny.... hilarious!94.5 KFM“Literally a laugh a minute”The Writers Studio